Striking actors from SAG-AFTRA plan to join Medieval Times performers on the picket line on Sunday, Oct. 1 as the strike by dinner theater workers approaches its eighth month.
Approximately 30 performers at the Buena Park castle, including queens, trumpet players, chancellors, knights, and squires, voted to join the American Guild of Variety Artists in November. However, they claim that management has consistently hindered their efforts to secure a “living wage” and improved safety measures.
The performers currently earn an average of $18 to $19 per hour and are requesting an increase to $25 per hour in order to keep up with the high cost of living in Southern California.
They launched an unfair labor practice strike against the company on Feb. 11, alleging that while workers at other Medieval Times castles have received substantial pay raises, their wages remain stagnant and they face unsafe working conditions.
Rachael Perrell Fosket, a SAG-AFTRA strike captain, expresses her solidarity by saying, “It’s the same thing everywhere. Everyone in this country deserves a fair wage and fair working conditions, and I believe that unions are the cornerstone of that.”
The striking actors will join the Medieval Times picket line in front of the venue at 7662 Beach Blvd. on Sunday from 12:45 to 5 p.m.
Erin Zapcic, a castle performer and strike captain with Medieval Times Performers United, reports that little progress has been made in the labor negotiations. Nevertheless, she finds hope in a recent development involving Starbucks.
A judge from the National Labor Relations Board ruled on Thursday that Starbucks Corp. violated federal labor law by increasing wages and benefits only for workers in non-unionized stores across the US last year.
Zapcic hopes for a similar outcome in their case, stating, “We have the exact same charge against Medieval Times, but it’s still under investigation due to our complaints of online harassment and harassment on the picket line. I remain hopeful.”
The two parties last met on Sept. 13 in a virtual call. Medieval Times officials and attorney Daniel J. Sobol, who represents the company, have not responded to requests for comment.
The unionization in Buena Park follows a previous victory at Medieval Times’ Lyndhurst, N.J. castle, where workers also obtained AGVA membership.
Susanne K. Doris, AGVA’s executive secretary-treasurer, explains that after Buena Park unionized, management began giving pay raises to performers at every castle except Buena Park and New Jersey. Knights received a 25% raise, while others in the show cast received a 15% to 20% raise.
The Dallas-based company operates a total of 10 castle dinner theaters, with additional locations in Dallas, Atlanta, Baltimore, Chicago, Myrtle Beach, Orlando, Scottsdale, and Toronto.
Although most of the striking performers have found other employment during the strike, they hope to return if a satisfactory labor agreement is reached.
The picket line continues, but only on weekends, with five to ten striking performers present at any given time.
An employee of Medieval Times previously stated that the company is bringing in performers from other castles to fill roles at the Buena Park location.
Zapcic says, “The general consensus we hear from guests leaving the theater is that the shows are not as good.” She further explains that five shows had to be canceled in August, which is usually uncommon, although this time of year is typically slower for business.
Furthermore, Zapcic reveals that some knights at the Buena Park castle earn $18.50 per hour, while similar performers at Disneyland make $33 per hour for 15-minute shows with breaks in between.
The Writers Guild of America recently ended its five-month-long strike after reaching a tentative agreement with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers. However, SAG-AFTRA, the actors guild, is still on strike and is set to resume negotiations with the alliance next week.
Fosket expresses the support of SAG-AFTRA members for the Medieval Times performers, stating, “When one union fights for fair wages and working conditions, they need to be seen and supported.”
Denial of responsibility! Vigour Times is an automatic aggregator of Global media. In each content, the hyperlink to the primary source is specified. All trademarks belong to their rightful owners, and all materials to their authors. For any complaint, please reach us at – [email protected]. We will take necessary action within 24 hours.
